About the Parents' Arts Society

The Society has two main aims. One of these is to arrange a number of social occasions to enable parents to meet each other and members of the Common Room in a relaxed atmosphere. With this in mind, we organise events such as Opera evenings, visits to Art Galleries, the Headmaster's Garden Party, wine tasting events, theatre trips and a formal May Ball. There are also long weekend trips to destinations such as the Art Galleries of Florence and, more recently, trips to Prague, Madrid, Greece, and Vienna.

Our other aim is to give parents a chance to use the educational and cultural facilities of the School. Fourteen evening lectures are arranged each year on subjects encompassing the Sciences and Politics, as well as the Arts. Recent speakers have included Lord Weatherill, Sir Ghillean Prance, Nicola Horlick, Sir Sydney Samuelson, Sir Alan Donald, Humphrey Burton, John Simpson, Dame Barbara Mills QC, Lord Mayhew, Lord Hurd and Ian Hislop.

Evening Classes are also a regular part of the programme, and these have ranged from Shakespeare, Music, Computing and Wine tasting, to Poetry, Jewellery Design, Pilates and Yoga.

The Society currently has over 900 members, and all lectures - and the wine and 'eats' before them - are included in the membership fee. We are a non-profit making organization, and the Society exists for the benefit of Tonbridge parents. You can get as involved - or not - as you like, but if you do attend any of these events, we can assure you of a very warm welcome. Do come and take advantage of the educational facilities and opportunities on offer - they are much too good to remain the sole preserve of your sons! Please note that lectures are free, and there is no need to book or apply for tickets. Just come and enjoy them.

Most Tonbridge parents are members of the Society, and the Committee (made up of parents and a few members of staff) tries to make sure that we cater for a wide range of tastes and interests on both the social and educational fronts. We look forward to seeing you.

Members are warmly invited to bring friends to the lectures in The Cawthorne Lecture Theatre or the E.M. Forster Theatre at a nominal charge of £5 per guest, payable on arrival.

Refreshments and drinks will be available in The Lowry Room or the Theatre Foyer before the talks. The lectures start at 8.00 pm.